English FA chief executive Martin Glenn has told BBC Sport that players from both sides will break Fifa rules and wear armbands carrying the red poppy symbol “as a point of principle”.

The poppy is traditionally worn to remember members of the British and Commonwealth nations’ armed forces who died fighting in World War One and later conflicts in the weeks leading up to and around Remembrance Day.

Mills, 39, added: “If the players are that insistent on wearing poppies, they should get a temporary tattoo, stick it on the back of their hand and, when the national anthems are played, put your hand on your heart and it’s there for everybody to see.

“Fifa cannot stop that. It’s no different than having a normal tattoo.

“It almost seems like the FA are having a fight for the sake of it.

“It’s becoming about the FA and Fifa rather than actually remembering all those who have lost their lives.”

Mills also suggested the players donate their match fees to the Royal British Legion, organiser of the annual poppy appeal.

The Scottish Football Association, meanwhile, has told BBC Sport it is prepared to challenge any Fifa sanction imposed for its players wearing armbands.